The article discusses the problems of pollution of the Ertis River in the Kazakhstani part of the basin. The data on the quality of river water obtained in the period from 2012 to 2023, which is generally characterized as unsatisfactory, was analyzed. The main sources of river pollution are discharges of industrial and municipal wastewater in the Bukhtarma, Ulba, Ertis river basins, and there is also a trans-boundary impact. As a result of the activities of a number of industrial complexes in the studied area, increased concentrations of heavy metals (lead, copper, zinc, and cadmium), nutrients (iron), and suspended particles (11.9–28.3 mg/dm³) are observed in the water of the Ertis River. The most polluted sections of the river are in the areas of Ust-Kamenogorsk, Semipalatinsk and Pavlodar. To improve the water quality of the Ertis River, it is necessary to take measures to reduce trans-boundary discharges of pollutants, ensure effective treatment of industrial and municipal wastewater, and also monitor the quality of the river’s water in order to track the dynamics of pollution and take timely measures to reduce it.

The article presents new data on biology and ecology of invasive ichthyofauna of the Middle Irtysh basin on the territory of Pavlodar region. Using the literature data, the species composition of alien species inhabiting the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Irtysh River is summarized. In the Middle Irtysh basin, 15 invasive fish species belonging to 5 families and 13 genera are currently registered. The largest number of species belong to the carp family (9 species or 60%), salmonids include 3 species or 20%, other families are represented by one species. Only three species have acclimatized and entered the fishery in the Middle Irtysh basin: bream, carp (carp) and pikeperch. The share in commercial catches is from 15.7 to 27.7% for bream, from 0.2 to 1.5% for carp and from 0.8 to 1.3% for pikeperch. The largest number of caught bream individuals was registered in backwaters, carp in channels and lakes, pikeperch in Irtysh channels. The data on growth rate of these three fish species with the results of regression analysis are given. Data on the results of introduction of 11 more fish species are briefly summarized. It is concluded that spontaneous introductions sometimes lead to complete reorganization of biocenosis as a result of introduction of predator or food competitor, transfer of dangerous parasites or diseases. Most often, after a small “acclimatization effect” a water body not ready for the press of an introduced species becomes impoverished and becomes unattractive for fishermen and unpromising for commercial fish farming. Given that the problem of alien fish species is a serious environmental problem, its solution requires a comprehensive approach including scientific research, monitoring, management and educational programs.

В данной статье приведены результаты лабораторных исследований по применению биопрепаратов «Байкал ЭМ-1» и «Биоутилизатор». Биопрепараты использовались для интенсификации процессов обезвоживания и устранения неприятного запаха городских осадков сточных вод Левобережной станции аэрации г.Усть- Каменогорска. Исследования актуальны, так как очистные сооружения находятся в черте города и большое количество образующихся осадков являются источником неприятного запаха, который распространяется на территорию жилой застройки города. Данная проблема весьма актуальна для большинства очистных сооружений Казахстана. Объектом исследования является сырой осадок из первичных отстойников. Лабораторные исследования проводились на базе НАО «ВКТУ имени Д.Серикбаева». В ходе лабораторных исследований проводились наблюдения за процессом отделения жидкости от твердой фазы осадка, визуально по шкале мерных цилиндров измерялся их объем в верхней части цилиндра (мл) и воды - в нижней части (мл). Замеры проводились на 1,2,3,7,8,9,10 сутки. Степень выраженности запаха исследуемых образцов осадков определялась органолептически. Результаты лабораторных исследований показали эффективность применения биопрепаратов. Наибольшую эффективность показал биопрепарат «Биоутилизатор» в количестве 10 л на каждые 100 куб. м. илового осадка, при этом, влажность осадка снижалась до 65% на 8-мые сутки и значительно уменьшилось выделение неприятных запахов в атмосферу. Применение препарата позволит увеличить срок эксплуатации иловых карт.

The growing implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has increased the importance of sustainable transformation in higher education institutions. Universities are increasingly expected to integrate environmental management, digital technologies, governance, education, and community engagement into unified sustainability frameworks. However, integrated sustainability management models for technical universities in emerging economies remain insufficiently explored. This study analyzes the long-term transformation of the EKTU Green Campus project at D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University (Kazakhstan) during 2018–2025. The research is based on methodological triangulation combining institutional statistical data, official UI GreenMetric methodologies and indicators, university sustainability reports, and verified ranking results. The study examines the interaction between Smart Campus technologies, digital governance, sustainability-oriented education, environmental management, and campus infrastructure modernization. The results indicate substantial progress across multiple dimensions of institutional sustainability, including energy efficiency, digital sustainability governance, renewable energy implementation, sustainable transportation, circular economy practices, and education and research indicators. The findings suggest that Smart Campus technologies and digital monitoring systems can function as core instruments of institutional sustainability management rather than solely as technical infrastructure solutions. The EKTU Green Campus experience provides a practical reference for sustainability transformation in technical universities in Central Asia and other developing regions, while acknowledging that its applicability may depend on local institutional and socio-economic contexts. The study is limited by its single-case design and its reliance on institutional and ranking data, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.